Deformation characteristics of isothermally forged UDIMET 720 nickel-base superalloy

The hot deformation behavior of nickel-base superalloy UDIMET 720 in solution-treated conditions, simulating the forging process of the alloy, was studied using hot compression experiments. Specimens were deformed in the temperature range of 1000 °C to 1175 °C with strain rates of 10−3 to 1 s−1 and total strain of 0.8. Below 1100 °C, all specimens showed flow localization as shear band through the diagonal direction, with more severity at higher strain rates. A uniform deformation was observed when testing between 1100 °C and 1150 °C with dynamic recrystallization as the major flow softening mechanism above 1125 °C. Deformation above γ′ solvus temperature was accompanied with grain boundary separation. The hot working window was determined to be in the interval 1100 °C to 1150 °C. Thermomechanical behavior of the material was modeled using the power-law, the Sellars-Tegart, and an empirical equation. The flow stress values showed a nonlinear dependence of strain rate sensitivity to strain rate. The analysis indicated that the empirical method provides a better constitutive equation for process modeling of this alloy. The apparent activation energy for deformation was calculated and its variations with strain rate and temperature are discussed.